Skype for Windows Phone 8 preview appears in Windows Phone Store

Microsoft has released a preview version of Skype for Windows Phone 8 that shows how the company plans to upgrade its video-calling app for smartphones. The app is not yet final, but it already has several enhancements for video calling and ingrates with Windows Phone 8. Skype shows all contacts in the People Hub and has a link to start a conversation. It also displays incoming Skype calls the same way as incoming phone calls, which provides a consistent experience.

Skype's biggest upgrade is the way it works in the background. The app can keep users always connected to the service without depleting their battery, so incoming calls and notifications are still available even when the app is closed. This, like many other features in the app, is still on "work-in-progress" status, according to Microsoft. More updates will continue to refine and stabilize the performance of Skype for Windows Phone 8, but anxious users can begin placing calls with the app now.